Fix Ky. tax system

For many years, employees of the state and its school systems have been paying their share into their retirement funds, but the legislature has not. It is now a crisis that must be met, so the state is left short of money to fund higher education, elementary and secondary education, highways, health care and all other essential government services.

The governor and legislature seem to have decided that almost every program serving the people must immediately cut this year’s previously authorized expenditures and extend the cut through the next two years.

For generations, Kentuckians lived shorter, sicker, less-educated lives. In recent years, we have made significant progress in education and health care, but now the administration in Frankfort says there is no alternative to returning to the “thank God for Mississippi” refrain.

The state tax system doesn’t fit the new service economy and special interests have exempted so many from taxes that the state brings in far too little money, but I haven’t heard anyone in Frankfort suggest any new source of revenue. Why not face reality, raise the needed money and get on with our lives?

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 8:09 PM with the headline "Fix Ky. tax system."